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10 Questions with ... Dale Bray
October 30, 2006
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NAME:Dale BrayTITLE:PresidentSTATION:Inpop RecordsFORMATS:AC/CHRLOCATION:Franklin, TNBORN:Gold Coast, AustraliaRAISED:Brisbane, Australia
1) What made you want to get into the music business? Who were your early mentors?
I started in the warehouse of my father's business in 1987. At that time he was distributing Sparrow Records. I was 17, straight out of high school. My father Keith was, and is, definitely my mentor.
2) What makes inpop records just that much different from other labels?
As an independent we have many advantages. We have the ability to move faster as the market changes. We don't have as much red tape to deal with or operational responsibilities. We also utilize many independent marketing firms on an album-by-album basis. This takes pressure off our need to put out releases just to cover fixed overhead.
3) Where and how are you finding new talent nowadays?
I spend around five hours a week looking for artists and songs. We found Jimmy Needham through our street team networks, and I found a new artist called Article One through searching various Internet sites like myspace, Indie Heaven, Grassroots Music, etc.
4) Brag on your artists for a bit. What are a few of the exciting things happening at Inpop right now?
Mat Kearney is breaking out at mainstream. Superchick is fast approaching 200,000 scans. Tree 63 just had their first No. 1 song at radio, and new artist Jimmy Needham is currently Top 5 CHR. Newsboys have just handed in an amazing new pop record.
5) What's your current take on the music in general? Is it sounding better, worse or the same as one year ago?
I would say the same. We haven't had a real music trend to follow of late so we are all in search of great pop music that connects with the Christian consumer. There just aren't that many great bands around these days.
6) How do you inspire your team, in-house and out, for success in the field with the amount of material that record labels are releasing today?
We have pretty realistic goals, but my main form of inspiration is just involving the staff in the majority of the decisions. I like to share the good and the bad info. It really is a team effort for an indie label. We don't have the muscle to break an artist without the support of the entire staff.
7) What do you think is the most important topic facing the music business and radio right now?
On the business side, my main concern is that downloads are making the consumer a fan of the individual song rather than a fan of an artist. In regard to radio, I believe Internet streaming and market saturation will become a challenge in the future.
8) Who has had the biggest impact on your life spiritually, personally and/or professionally?
Professionally, my father Keith and Paul Bootes, an Australian businessman who I started my first company with. Spiritually, I have had many people who have influenced me but my wife Alice has the most influence on me on a day-to-day basis. I have been inspired by many people for a week or two, but for me it's more important to have a supportive wife who is an influence on my life and my children 24/7.
9) If you can imagine your life outside the music business, what would you be doing?
My two other loves in life are the stock market and sport, so I would probably be involved in venture capitol or sports management.
10) If you could take your favorite aspects of Australia and your favorite aspects of Nashville, mash 'em up, what would your new home look, sound and smell like?
That's easy. It would look like a Tennessee home on the Australian beach with two weeks of snow a year. It would sound like FedEx Field in Washington, except we would be watching the Brisbane Broncos, not the Redskins. It would smell like an Australian BBQ, followed by hot Krispy Kremes.
Bonus Questions
1) Do you read everything? Nothing?
I read everything, but only the first paragraph
2 ) What's in your CD player right now?
Article One.
3) If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want with you and why?
A TV with Dish Network for sports, my children to make me laugh and my golf clubs.
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